Akantha

Trying to survive countless life and death situations was the way of life for the demon race. We had enemies and allies, but our thirst for blood and our greed for domination gave us the worst reputation. The blood lust makes us great fighters, and in a world where dog eats dog, only the strongest survive and rule. If you're weak, you are considered trash in the eyes of everyone else. If you cant cultivate, trash. Low born and lower class, trash. Treated no better than a servant or a slave. But that's just the demon race, the others, it depends on which one, but you'd have a better life as a slave with the humans than you would with the demons. It was everyone's worst nightmare, to be taken back to the demon realm if you were captured, sold or became spoils of war.

I became known as the red horned princess because my horns were blood red and long, the longest anyone has ever seen. The color and length of your horn determines your power and I was top tier. "My father",the king, made sure I was taught by all the best teachers and had the best training, more or less to achieve what he desired most. The ultimate weapon.

"Who needs a son for an heir when I have a daughter!" My father once exclaimed sarcastically. I was adopted as a baby. The queen had so graciously taken me into their family, if you could even call it that.

Even though I was not related to any of them by blood, I was stronger than any of the King's own flesh and blood. The crown prince, the other princes and the princess all despised me. It wasn't as if I was receiving all the love from the king and queen and taking from them. It was because I received all the attention for how strong I could become and how many kingdoms I could conquer. The king was greedy for more land, more money, and treasure. He wouldn't hesitate to hand over the best resources to me over his own kids. As much as I hated living here, at least I wasn't weak.

At an early age my father sent me off to war to win battles with him. He would come with me and we would strategize together and conquer. He awarded me my own team of soldiers, hand picked by me and trained by me. My soldiers and I were invincible and won every battle that crossed our paths.

When I turned 15, my father acquired a magical necklace. It was an elegant and beautiful black choker with red rubies inlaid. It held a powerful and evil magic as I held it in my hands.

"Illara you will put it on." The king demanded. He wanted to control me once he realized how fast and how strong I was becoming. Soon he wouldn't be able to reign me in as I had become slightly disobedient.

A red beam shot from the choker and around his neck as I put on the choker unwillingly. I was his slave or else Lives were at stake if I didn't do it, mainly my army. I trained them, took them into battle and into victory. He had threatened to have them all executed regardless if that meant kissing  a large part of his army.

My aura, which was oppressive and dangerous, slowly retracted and disappeared as the collar locked into place. Everyone was able to breathe easier now that the weight of my aura was gone. I glared at king with an openly defiant look, the choker slowly tightening and digging the sharp thorns into my neck.

"You will continue to win wars for me dear girl...hahaha!" He laughed manically while adjusting his crown. I sealed off my emotions that day, to never allow anyone to find weakness in me or use people against me.

A few years later....

"Illara! Join us for dinner!" The king said, waving me over as I was walking past the dining hall. I stopped and walked towards him with a blank face and fierce stare.

"Your majesty, thank you for asking me to join." I said with a slight head bow before taking a seat next to him.

"How was your trip? I hope you bring me good news." He said twisting his rings around his thumb. I internally roll my eyes. Of course I did.

"Of course Your majesty. We won the battle, and took over the stronghold and I brought the head of the human leader. It's currently being put on display as we speak. To send a message." I replied before accepting a glass of wine from the maid and taking a sip.  I swirled it before putting the glass down.

"Excellent. And I assume the treasury is also being filled as we speak?" He asked cutting a piece of steak before eating it.

"Yes. It's being recorded and organized as we speak. But it may take a bit longer than usual before you can access it. It was a big haul." I replied and then started to eat. The food was warm and savory but tasted bland to me.

"That's alright. The more the better! I don't mind waiting." He chuckled and then downed his glass of wine. We ate in silence until he cleared his throat.

"You know... in a few months it will be your coming of age birthday. Your mother, the queen would really love to throw a debutante ball for you. I told her I was against the idea. I didn't think you would like it." He said hinting at something.

My reflection stared back at me from the side of my knife. What stared back was a pale face with a long scar running down my left cheek to my jaw. What stares back at me was what many would be scared of. Intimidated by. I haven't been formally introduced to the public as a princess before. Only as the Rose thorn warrior, Akantha. The rumors and whispers about me gave me a frightening image.

"If that's what mother queen wants." I said putting down my fork and knife and stared at him. It wasn't the answer he was looking for but he let it slide.

"Since that is the case, we'll hold off on the next expedition so that these next few months you can train to become a proper lady." He said, waving for the maids to clean the table.

A proper lady he says. He is the reason I never learned proper etiquette and dancing and sewing and learning musical instruments. Living a relatively peaceful and mundane life. I was too manly in the eyes of my siblings and they ridiculed me for it. It mattered not to me though simply because of the fact that I could rub it in their faces that I could have all the things they really wanted from the king. Power. Authority. Money. Land. A title. A position in court. In the king's eyes, no one and nothing was better than me and it was a constant reminder to those spoilt royal asses.

"Do not embarrass us." He says before dismissing me.

"Of course your majesty." I said bowing before turning and leaving the dining hall with a frown on my face as I headed to my room.